Island Dental blog

Ways That Smoking Affects Teeth and Gums

June 7, 2022

Smoking is the biggest hazard to good oral health. The product contains many harmful ingredients that damage your mouth in many ways. Excessive smoking could require intervention like a tooth extraction or oral surgery by dentists in Marco Island.

chainsmoker needs to see Dentists in Marco Island

Effects of Smoking on Oral Health

Nicotine Stains the Teeth

Not all of the nicotine you inhale goes to the lungs. Some of it rests on your tooth's shell or enamel. Just like food debris, this chemical attracts bacteria that turn into plaque. This plaque, in turn, slowly digs into the enamel and causes cavities if not washed away immediately. You don't want cavities, as they enable bacteria to enter the pulp and create infections.

Smoking Can Cause Gum Disease

Cigarette residue that finds its way into the tooth's base irritates the gums and initiates inflammation or gingivitis. It will also cause a buildup of tartar, which makes plaque challenging to remove through brushing and flossing. Over time, the gums will pull back from the teeth and expose gaps that bacteria can enter.  

This is periodontitis, which destroys the bones supporting the teeth and causes tooth loss. Periodontal disease is irreversible and will need oral surgery.

Tobacco Leads to Persistent Bad Breath

Smoking causes bad breath in multiple ways. First, it dehydrates the mouth, which helps bacteria to thrive and causes a pungent odor. Second, nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and cigar leave their own unique smell in your mouth. Gum disease caused by smoking also results in foul-smelling breath in its advanced stages that persists the entire day.

Smoking Can Raise Your Risk for Oral Cancer

Too much smoking damages the healthy cells in your mouth. However, instead of dying and getting replaced, these abnormal cells multiply at the same rate healthy cells do. They become cancer cells, which eventually crowd out the mouth and become oral cancer. These cells can also metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.

Dentists in Marco Island discourage cigarette smoking

If You Smoke, Visit Your Dentists in Marco Island Now  

You'll need to make regular visits to your dentist if you are a chronic smoker. Constantly getting your teeth examined and cleaned can help prevent severe complications like periodontitis and halitosis. Contact us now and book your appointment.

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